Toy vehicle track set

ABSTRACT

A track set is provided, the track set having: a toy vehicle; a toy airplane; a launcher for launching the toy airplane; a trigger mechanism coupled to the launcher, wherein the trigger mechanism is located in a portion of a track path of the track set; and wherein actuation of the trigger mechanism by the toy vehicle as it travels along the track path launches the toy airplane from the launcher towards an indicator mechanism configured to be contacted by the toy vehicle traveling along the track path and the toy airplane after it has been launched from the launcher.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/710,047, filed Oct. 5, 2012, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND

Play sets for toy vehicles are popular toys which are known to provideentertainment and excitement to a user. These play sets typicallyinclude a track configuration intended to guide a propelled toy vehicle,such as a 1/64 scale die-cast metal toy vehicle, through a course. Thetrack configurations include closed-loop continuous track arrangementsand open-end arrangements. Toy vehicles are placed on these play settracks and propelled across the configuration by hand or by an externalpropulsion means.

To bring increased entertainment and excitement to play sets, trackconfigurations may include features such as intersecting tracks, loopsegments, and other types of track configurations.

Accordingly, a play set for toy vehicles that provides variations inplay is desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one embodiment, a track set is provided, the track set having: atrack path; an indicator mechanism; a toy vehicle; a toy airplane; alauncher for launching the toy airplane; and a trigger mechanism coupledto the launcher, wherein the trigger mechanism is located in a portionof the track path of the toy vehicle track set, and actuation of thetrigger mechanism by the toy vehicle as the toy vehicle travels alongthe track path launches the toy airplane from the launcher towards theindicator mechanism configured to be contacted by the toy vehicletraveling along the track path and the toy airplane after the toyairplane has been launched from the launcher.

In another exemplary embodiment, a track set for toy vehicles isprovided, the track set having: a plurality of track segments defining atrack path; a first toy vehicle configured to travel along the trackpath; a second toy vehicle; a launcher configured for launching thesecond toy vehicle, the launcher having a trigger mechanism movablymounted to the launcher for movement between a first position and asecond position, wherein movement of the trigger mechanism from thefirst position to the second position is caused by the first toy vehicletraveling along a portion of the track path that passes through thelauncher and movement of the trigger mechanism from the first positionto the second position causes the second toy vehicle to be launched fromthe launcher; and an indicator mechanism configured to be contacted bythe first toy vehicle traveling along the track path and the second toyvehicle after the second toy vehicle has been launched from thelauncher.

In another embodiment, a method for racing a toy vehicle against a toyairplane is provided. The method including the steps of: moving the toyvehicle along a track path; contacting and moving a trigger mechanism ofa launcher as the toy vehicle moves along the track path, wherein themovement of the trigger mechanism releases the toy airplane from thelauncher and the toy airplane and the toy vehicle travel simultaneouslytowards an indicator mechanism, the indicator mechanism being configuredto be contacted by the toy vehicle traveling along the track path andthe toy airplane after it has been launched from the launcher; andindicating which of the toy vehicle and the toy airplane has reached theindicator mechanism first.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a track set according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a forward perspective view of a launcher for use with thetrack set;

FIG. 2B is a rearward perspective view of the launcher;

FIG. 3A is a forward perspective view of an indicator mechanism for usewith the track set;

FIG. 3B is a rearward perspective view of the indicator mechanism;

FIG. 4A is a top view of a toy airplane for use the track set; and

FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the toy airplane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary play set or track set 10 for toyvehicles or objects 12 according to one non-limiting embodiment of thepresent invention. The play set 10 includes a plurality of tracksegments 14 configured to be secured to each other using connectors inaccordance with known technologies in order to define a track path 16.In one embodiment, the objects 12 are toy vehicles configured to travelalong the track path 16 in the direction of arrows 17.

The play set or track set 10 further comprises a launcher 18 that isconfigured to be located between a pair of track segments 14 or coupledto a track segment 14 forming the track path 16. Launcher 18 is alsoillustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Launcher 18 has a connector portion 20configured to slidably receive a pair of track segments 14 such that aportion of the track path 16 passes through an opening 22 defined by astructure 24 that is located above a portion of the track path 16.

Located upon a top portion of structure 24 is a launch member 26 that isconfigured to be slidably received within an opening 28 of a toyairplane 30 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). Accordingly, toy airplane 30 can beslidably received upon launch member 26 so that a spring 32 locatedwithin opening 28 can be compressed until a release mechanism 34 engagesa notch 36 on the toy airplane 30. As such, the toy airplane 30 whenslid upon launch member 26 causes spring 32 to be compressed. Releasemechanism 34 retains the toy airplane on the launch member 26 so thatspring 32 remains in its compressed state. The stored potential energyof spring 32 is used to release and launch the toy airplane 30 fromlauncher 18 when a trigger 38 coupled to the release mechanism 34 ismoved by the toy vehicle 12 as the toy vehicle 12 travels along thetrack path 16. In an alternative embodiment and as illustrated by thedashed lines in FIGS. 2A and 2B, spring 32 can be positioned on launchmember 26.

As illustrated, target 38 is positioned above the track segments 14 andas a toy vehicle 12 travels into opening 22, the toy vehicle 12 contactsand moves the target 38. Movement of target 38 causes the releasemechanism 34 to move from a first position wherein a feature 40 of therelease mechanism 34 is received within notch 36 (see FIG. 4B) to asecond position wherein the feature 40 is no longer received within thenotch 36 and thus, the potential energy of compressed spring 32 launchesthe toy airplane 30 from the launch member 26. Once this occurs, the toyairplane 30 travels in the direction of arrow 42 (see FIG. 1) towards anindicator mechanism 44.

Referring to FIG. 1, once the toy vehicle 12 has contacted target 38,the toy vehicle 12 continues on the track path 16 towards indicatormechanism 44. In accordance with one non-limiting exemplary embodiment,target 38 is placed slightly above the track segments 14 so that the toyvehicle 12 will contact and move the target 38 without substantiallyslowing the toy vehicle 12 down so that the toy vehicle 12 may continueon towards indicator mechanism 44.

Indicator mechanism 44 is also illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Indicatormechanism 44 has a structure 46. Structure 46 further comprises aconnector 48 that is configured to slidably receive one of the tracksegments 14 so that track path 16 is directed towards a vehicle target50 of the indicator mechanism 44. Vehicle target 50 is pivotally mountedto the base structure 46 for movement between a first position(illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B) wherein the vehicle target 50 ispositioned above the track path 16 so that the vehicle target 50 can becontacted by the toy vehicle 12 when the toy vehicle 12 reachesindicator mechanism 44. Once vehicle target 50 is contacted by toyvehicle 12, the vehicle target 50 transitions or moves from the firstposition to a second position wherein the target 50 is aligned withopening 52 of the base structure 46.

Accordingly and when the vehicle target 50 is located in the firstposition, the target 50 can be contacted by a toy vehicle 12 travelingalong the track path 16 and once the vehicle target 50 is contacted, thetarget 50 moves to a second position in which the target 50 is alignedwith opening 52. In order to assist the movement of vehicle target 50from the first position to the second position, an elastic member 54 issecured to the vehicle target 50 (see at least FIG. 3B).

Structure 46 further comprises an airplane target 56 pivotally mountedto the base structure above opening 52. Airplane target 56 is capable ofmovement from a first position (illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B) whereinthe airplane target 56 is positioned above the opening 52 so that thetarget 56 can be contacted by the toy airplane 30 when the toy airplane30 reaches indicator mechanism 44. Once airplane target 56 is contactedby toy airplane 30, target 56 transitions or moves from the firstposition to a second position in which the target 56 is aligned withopening 52 of the base structure 46.

Similar to the vehicle target 50, and in order to assist the movement ofairplane target 56 from the first position to the second position, anelastic member 54 is secured to the airplane target 56 (see at leastFIG. 3B). This may or may not be the same elastic member secured to thevehicle target 50. In any event, contact of the airplane target 56 bythe toy vehicle airplane 30 traveling in the direction of arrow 58causes the airplane target 56 to pivot or rotate in the direction ofarrow 70 and thus, align the airplane target 56 with opening 52.

In similar fashion, movement of the toy vehicle 12 in the direction ofarrow 17 results in the toy vehicle 12 contacting the toy vehicle target50 and pivoting the toy vehicle target 50 in the direction of arrow 72,thereby aligning the toy vehicle target 50 with opening 52.

The target (50, 56) that is viewable through the opening 52 on the frontside of the indicator mechanism 44 (FIG. 3A) depends on which target(50, 56) is contacted first. Accordingly, indicator mechanism 44provides a means for determining which toy vehicle (e.g., toy vehicle 12or toy airplane 30) has won a race from the launcher mechanism 18 to theindicator mechanism 44.

For example and during use of the play set or track set 10, a toyvehicle 12 can be positioned at an elevated location 74 of track path 16and then released so that gravity draws the toy vehicle 12 downwardlytowards the launcher mechanism 18 in the direction of arrows 17. Oncethe toy vehicle 12 reaches the launcher mechanism 18, the toy vehicle 12contacts target 38 and causes the toy airplane 30 to be launched fromthe launcher mechanism 18 via the release of the potential energy ofspring 32.

At this point, the toy vehicle 12 and the toy airplane 30 simultaneouslytravel towards the indicator mechanism 44. The toy vehicle 12 travels onland (e.g. along track path 16) while the toy airplane 30 travels in theair in the direction of arrow 42. As such, the play set or track set 10allows an individual to race an airplane against a car.

As mentioned above, indicator mechanism 44 has a respective target 50,56 for each one of the toy vehicle 12 and the toy airplane 30. Asillustrated in at least FIGS. 3A and 3B, target 50 is provided withindicia 76 that corresponds to the toy vehicle 12 while target 56 isprovided with indicia 78 that corresponds to toy airplane 30.Accordingly, the indicia 76 or 78 of the first target to be contacted byeither the toy vehicle 12 or the toy airplane 30 will be visuallyperceivable in opening 52 when viewed from the front side of theindicator mechanism 44 (FIG. 3A). Thus, this indicia will provide anindication of the winner of the race (e.g., toy vehicle 12 versus toyairplane 30 from launcher mechanism 18 to indicator mechanism 44).

In an alternative embodiment and referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, launchmember 26 may be pivotally mounted to a structure 24 such that thelaunch member 26 can be moved upwardly and downwardly in the directionof arrows 80. Movement of the launch member 26 in the direction ofarrows 80 allows the trajectory of the toy airplane (e.g., arrow 42) tobe varied and thus providing variations in play. For example, additionaltrack sections 14 and/or stunts or features can be added to the track orplay set 10 as the flight path of the toy airplane 30 can be varied.Movement of launch member 26 may be facilitated by knobs 82.

As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do notdenote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used todistinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” hereindo not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presenceof at least one of the referenced item. In addition, it is noted thatthe terms “bottom” and “top” are used herein, unless otherwise noted,merely for convenience of description, and are not limited to any oneposition or spatial orientation.

In the preceding detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of variousembodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the artwill understand that embodiments of the present invention may bepracticed without these specific details, that the present invention isnot limited to the depicted embodiments, and that the present inventionmay be practiced in a variety of alternative embodiments. Moreover,repeated usage of the phrase “in an embodiment” does not necessarilyrefer to the same embodiment, although it may. Lastly, the terms“comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used in thepresent application, are intended to be synonymous unless otherwiseindicated. This written description uses examples to disclose theinvention, including the best mode, and to enable any person skilled inthe art to practice the invention, including making and using anydevices or systems. The patentable scope of the invention is defined bythe claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilledin the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope ofthe claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from theliteral language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structuralelements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages ofthe claims.

1. A toy vehicle track set, comprising: a track path; an indicatormechanism; a toy vehicle; a toy airplane; a launcher for launching thetoy airplane; and a trigger mechanism coupled to the launcher, whereinthe trigger mechanism is located in a portion of the track path of thetoy vehicle track set, and actuation of the trigger mechanism by the toyvehicle as the toy vehicle travels along the track path launches the toyairplane from the launcher towards the indicator mechanism configured tobe contacted by the toy vehicle traveling along the track path and thetoy airplane after the toy airplane has been launched from the launcher.2. The track set of claim 1, wherein the launcher comprises a movablemember that allows a trajectory of the toy airplane to be adjusted. 3.The track set of claim 1, wherein the launcher further comprises abiasing mechanism whose biasing force is released when the triggermechanism is actuated.
 4. The track set of claim 1, wherein theindicator mechanism includes a base structure having a first targetpivotally mounted to the base structure for movement between a firstposition in which the first target is configured to be contacted by thetoy vehicle as the toy vehicle travels along a portion of the track pathof the vehicle track set and a second position in which the first targetis aligned with an opening in the base structure.
 5. The track set ofclaim 4, wherein the indicator mechanism includes a second targetpivotally mounted to the base structure for movement between a firstposition in which the second target is configured to be contacted by thetoy airplane after the toy airplane is launched from the launcher and asecond position in which the second target is aligned with the openingin the base structure.
 6. The track set of claim 5, wherein each of thefirst target and the second target is biased towards its respectivesecond position by an elastic member.
 7. The track set of claim 5,wherein one of the first target or the second target is viewable in theopening of the base structure after the toy vehicle and the toy airplanehave reached the indicator mechanism, the viewable target indicatingwhich of the toy vehicle and the toy airplane has reached the indicatormechanism first.
 8. The track set of claim 5, wherein the first targethas indicia corresponding to the toy vehicle and the second target hasindicia corresponding to the toy airplane.
 9. The track set of claim 1,wherein the launcher includes a structure having a connector configuredto receive one or more track segments configured to define a portion ofthe track path.
 10. The track set of claim 9, wherein the indicatormechanism includes its own structure having a connector configured toreceive a track segment configured to define a portion of the trackpath.
 11. A track set for toy vehicles, comprising: a plurality of tracksegments defining a track path; a first toy vehicle configured to travelalong the track path; a second toy vehicle; a launcher configured forlaunching the second toy vehicle, the launcher having a triggermechanism movably mounted to the launcher for movement between a firstposition and a second position, wherein movement of the triggermechanism from the first position to the second position is caused bythe first toy vehicle traveling along a portion of the track path thatpasses through the launcher and movement of the trigger mechanism fromthe first position to the second position causes the second toy vehicleto be launched from the launcher; and an indicator mechanism configuredto be contacted by the first toy vehicle traveling along the track pathand the second toy vehicle after the second toy vehicle has beenlaunched from the launcher.
 12. The track set of claim 11, wherein thelauncher comprises a movable member that allows a trajectory of thesecond toy vehicle to be adjusted.
 13. The track set of claim 11,wherein the launcher includes a spring for launching the second toyvehicle from the launcher when the trigger mechanism is moved from thefirst position to the second position.
 14. The track set of claim 11,wherein the indicator mechanism includes a structure having a firsttarget pivotally mounted to the structure of the indicator mechanism formovement between a first position in which the first target isconfigured to be contacted by the first toy vehicle as the first toyvehicle travels along a portion of the track path proximate to theindicator mechanism and a second position in which the first target isaligned with an opening in the structure of the indicator mechanism. 15.The track set of claim 14, wherein the indicator mechanism includes asecond target pivotally mounted to the structure of the indicatormechanism for movement between a first position in which the secondtarget is configured to be contacted by the second toy vehicle after thesecond toy vehicle is launched from the launcher and a second positionin which the second target is aligned with the opening in the structureof the indicator mechanism.
 16. The track set of claim 15, wherein eachof the first target and the second target is biased towards itsrespective second position by an elastic member.
 17. The track set ofclaim 15, wherein one of the first target or the second target isviewable in the opening the structure after the first toy vehicle andthe second toy vehicle have reached the indicator mechanism, and theviewable target indicates which of the first toy vehicle and the secondtoy vehicle has reached the indicator mechanism first.
 18. The track setof claim 15, wherein the first target has indicia corresponding to thefirst toy vehicle and the second target has indicia corresponding to thesecond toy vehicle.
 19. The track set of claim 11, wherein the launcherincludes a structure having a connector configured to receive at leastone track segment that defines the portion of the track path that passesthrough the launcher.
 20. A method for racing a toy vehicle against atoy airplane, the method comprising: moving the toy vehicle along atrack path; contacting and moving a trigger mechanism of a launcher asthe toy vehicle moves along the track path, wherein the movement of thetrigger mechanism releases the toy airplane from the launcher and thetoy airplane and the toy vehicle travel simultaneously towards anindicator mechanism, the indicator mechanism being configured to becontacted by the toy vehicle traveling along the track path and the toyairplane after it has been launched from the launcher; and indicatingwhich of the toy vehicle and the toy airplane has reached the indicatormechanism first.